VANCOUVER – The race for the Canada West No. 1 ranking continued Sunday afternoon as the UBC women's field hockey team hosted the University of Victoria for the second game of the weekend doubleheader. Despite two halves characterized by dynamic, pressured play, UBC and Victoria found themselves finishing even at 1-1, their third tie game of the season.
 
The first half began with heavy play in the middle of the park, with both teams rigorously trying to push the ball up the field. The Vikes' first scoring opportunity came in the twenty-sixth minute, but Bea Francisco quickly deterred their chances with a strong block. The Vikes' then sent a powerful shot towards the goal off a corner penalty play; again, Francisco stopped their chances. An immediate second corner penalty gave Victoria one last chance; for the third time within a minute of play, Francisco stopped the Vikes' from getting onto the scoreboard.
 
Just two minutes later, the Vikes' would get on the board when the ball bounced backfield off of a UBC pass and into their own net.
 
UBC responded less than a minute later, when Katie Jameson utilized a corner penalty play to send the ball into the back of the Vikes' goal. At the half, it was a tie game at 1-1.
 
In the second half, both the 'Birds and the Vikes struggled to get ahead. Francisco had yet another huge save at the 47 minute mark when Victoria fled down the field on a breakaway. Francisco came forward from the net and quickly slid across the field to block the Vikes' shot.
 
As the half progressed, both teams frantically pushed to regain offensive control. Yet, as the game came to a close, neither team was ultimately able to change the scoreboard.
 
UBC head coach Hash Kanjee was pleased with the team's performance on the field.

"I really like the effort today. I thought they played really, really well. The back four – Shanlee, Miranda, Caitlin, and Nat in the middle - worked really hard today and they gave us a lot of good performance."
 
Next weekend, UBC and Victoria will face-off one last time before the CIS Championship tournament beginning on October 31. Saturday, October 26, the 'Birds will travel to Victoria for a 12:30 P.M. game against the Vikes. This game will feature the return of Kate Gillis, Hannah Haughn, Abigail Raye, Sara McManus, and Rachel Donohoe, who were competing this weekend at the Super Series Hockey 9s in Austrialia.
 
To prepare for next weekend's final regular season game against Victoria, Kanjee will have the girls working towards perfecting the offense.

"I think if there was anything missing today, it certainly was not lack of effort. Perhaps the forwards could have held the ball for us a bit more. We had chances. We had four chances I thought we could have capitalized on; but, you know what, I'm really happy with the turnaround from yesterday to today. They are a young group. There are a lot of kids that haven't played that much at UBC so I'm pretty happy with the performance. We'll just continue to work on what we've been working on today. Obviously, the focus for next week will be our final-phase offence. Given that they brought their best effort, even though their skills weren't quite as good, they deserve my congratulations."